That was when the space agency launched its two STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft. Now, after a series of complex maneuvers, the two probes are aligned on either side of the sun, offering a 360-degree view of our star.

"With data like these, we can fly around the sun to see what's happening over the horizon – without ever leaving our desks," said STEREO program scientist Lika Guhathakurta in a press release. "I expect great advances in theoretical solar physics and space weather forecasting."